Morricone RMX

Several years in the planning and finally one of the most imaginative and evocative composers of music for movies, Ennio Morricone has sanctioned thirteen remixes from his back catalogue of over 400 scores. As tribute albums go, this one is very different. Here electronic music’s finest have submitted re-workings so obviously fueled with passion that they each stand as strong contemporary pieces in their own right, not apeing the originals but, giving the tunes a fresh and alternative angle.

We’re privvy here to a glorius return from over-budget movie music hell for Apollo 440, as they supply the opener ‘The Man With The Harmonica’ from Sergio Leone’s Once Upon A Time In The West. Given that these pieces now have to stand up without the stunning visual accompaniment the originals had, the 440’s treatment bleeds scorched earth and worn saloon doors to excellent effect. Terranova’s ‘For A Few Dollars More’ ups the pace but still has you chewing matchsticks, and strong offerings from Copasetic Con Vivi E Selda and Nightmares On Wax keep the flag flying.

While there’s plenty of familiar stuff here, some lesser-known work also features. Tommy Hools, for example, sculpts a brooding ‘Doricamente’ from 1970’s Italian film The Secret Picture Of A Respectable Woman.

Throughout, there are wonderful references lovingly dropped in such as vultures crying or guns being cocked – working beautifully the whole project is as evocative as it is consistant. A fantastic place to begin a collection of new electronic music and a gorgeous essential to anyone already started.

In the future all tribute albums will be made this way.